Orthodontic appliance

Abstract

An orthodontic appliance to establish and maintain normal alignment of the teeth. The orthodontic appliance includes a U-shaped band of flexible material having a pair of rearwardly extending arms where the U-shaped band conforms to the labial surface of the dental arch when in position in the mouth. It also includes a pair of anchors each of which is adapted to cooperate with a molar on opposite sides of the mouth to maintain the U-shaped band in position against the labial surface of the dental arch. The orthodontic appliance further includes a resilient member joining the anchors to the arms of the U-shaped band with the resilient member applying a biasing force to the labial surface of the dental arch through the U-shaped band. In addition, the orthodontic appliance may include a U-shaped member releasably securable to the anchors for applying a counterforce to the front teeth of the dental arch.

I claim: 
     
       1. An orthodontic appliance, comprising: a U-shaped band of flexible material, said band conforming to the labial surface of the dental arch when in position in the mouth, said U-shaped band having a pair of rearwardly extending arms;   U-shaped anchor means adapted to be releasably secured within the mouth by placement behind a molar on each side of the mouth, said U-shaped anchor means being adapted to maintain said U-shaped band in position against the labial surface of the dental arch;   resilient means joining said U-shaped anchor means to said arms of said U-shaped band, said resilient means applying a biasing force to the labial surface of the dental arch through said U-shaped band, said biasing force being determined by the strength of said resilient means; and   means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said U-shaped band for placing said U-shaped band in a first position resisting the biasing force of said resilient means during placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth and a second position transmitting the biasing force of said resilient means to the labial surface of the dental arch through said U-shaped band after placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth.   
     
     
       2. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 1 wherein said U-shaped anchor means includes a pair of U-shaped hooks, said hooks each facing in a direction opposite the direction said U-shaped band faces and being operatively associated with one of said arms on opposite sides of said U-shaped band, one of said U-shaped hooks being adapted to engage a molar on each side of the mouth. 
     
     
       3. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 2 wherein said U-shaped anchor means also includes a pair of elongated slide members, said slide members comprising said means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said U-shaped band for placing said U-shaped band in said first and second positions and said slide members each having a hollow channel adapted to receive one of said arms of said U-shaped band in telescopic fashion, said U-shaped hooks each being connected to the rearwardmost end of one of said elongated slide members. 
     
     
       4. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 3 wherein each of said U-shaped hooks is attached to the corresponding one of said slide members by a joint, said joint accommodating relative pivotal movement of said U-shaped hooks relative to said slide members, said relative pivotal movement permitting said U-shaped hooks to be positioned so as to comfortably and securely engage a molar on each side of the mouth. 
     
     
       5. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 3 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of elongated biasing members, one of said biasing members being associated with each of said arms of said U-shaped band and extending from a point adjacent the rearwardmost end of the corresponding one of said slide members to a point on the corresponding arm forward of said slide member, said biasing members applying a force tending to telescope said arms further into said slide members. 
     
     
       6. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 5 wherein said elongated slide members each include a second hollow channel extending parallel to said arm-receiving hollow channel, said second hollow channels being substantially aligned with connection means for said biasing members associated with said arms and said anchor means, said biasing members extending through said second hollow channels of said elongated slide members. 
     
     
       7. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 6 wherein said connection means includes a corresponding pair of studs on each of said arms and anchor means, said biasing members comprising elastic bands, said elastic bands joining said corresponding pairs of studs and extending through said second hollow channels of said slide members. 
     
     
       8. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 3 wherein said elongated slide members each include a pair of inwardly directed protrusions in said hollow channel defined by forwardly and inwardly ramped surfaces terminating in forwardly facing vertical surfaces, said rearwardly extending arms each being split lengthwise to define a pair of secondary arms adapted to be disposed in locked position against said forwardly facing vertical surfaces during placement of said appliance in the mouth, said secondary arms being adapted to be forced together for insertion past said forwardly facing vertical surfaces after said U-shaped hooks have been placed in engagement with a molar on each side of the mouth. 
     
     
       9. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 8 wherein said secondary arms each include a narrow elongated portion terminating in an enlarged end, said enlarged ends each including a rearwardly facing vertical surface adapted to be disposed in engagement with one of said forwardly facing vertical surfaces of said inwardly directed protrusions of said slide members, said enlarged ends also each including a curved surface adapted to cooperate with one of said forwardly and inwardly ramped surfaces of said slide members. 
     
     
       10. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 1 wherein said U-shaped band is formed of plastic and includes an embossment simulating teeth on the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       11. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 1 wherein said U-shaped band is formed of plastic and includes a plurality of grooves to grip the teeth on the inner surface thereof. 
     
     
       12. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 1 wherein said U-shaped band is formed of plastic, said arms being movable toward one another for insertion of said appliance into the mouth. 
     
     
       13. An orthodontic appliance, comprising: a U-shaped band of flexible material, said band conforming to the labial surface of the dental arch when in position in the mouth, said U-shaped band having a pair of rearwardly extending arms;   U-shaped anchor means adapted to be releasably secured within the mouth by placement behind a molar on each side of the mouth, said U-shaped anchor means being adapted to maintain said U-shaped band in position against the labial surface of the dental arch;   resilient means joining said U-shaped anchor means to said arms of said U-shaped band, said resilient means applying a biasing force to the labial surface of the dental arch through said U-shaped band, said biasing force being determined by the strength of said resilient means;   means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said U-shaped band for placing said U-shaped band in a first position resisting the biasing force of said resilient means during placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth and a second position transmitting the biasing force of said resilient means to the labial surface of the dental arch after placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth;   means for applying a counterforce to the front teeth of the dental arch, said counterforce applying means being releasably securable to said U-shaped anchor means; and   means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said counterforce applying means for placing said counterforce applying means in a first position remote from the front teeth of the dental arch during placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth and a second position in engagement with the front teeth of the dental arch after placement of said U-shaped anchor means behind a molar on each side of the mouth.   
     
     
       14. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 13 wherein said counterforce applying means is a generally U-shaped member adapted to fit within said U-shaped band, said U-shaped member having a curved surface adapted to engage the posterior surface of the front teeth and a pair of connecting arms extending therefrom, said connecting arms being adapted to be releasably secured to said U-shaped anchor means and comprising said means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said counterforce applying means for placing said counterforce applying means in said first and second positions. 
     
     
       15. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 14 wherein said connecting arms each include intermediate biasing means, said biasing means comprising a first arm portion having a plunger disposed in one end of a spring loaded cylinder and a second arm portion threaded into the other end of said cylinder, said connecting arms biasing said U-shaped member outwardly to provide said counterforce. 
     
     
       16. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 15 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of elongated biasing members, one of said biasing members being associated with each of said arms of said U-shaped band and extending from a point adjacent the rearwardmost end of the corresponding one of said slide members to a point on the corresponding arm forward of said slide member, said biasing members applying a force tending to telescope said arms further into said slide members. 
     
     
       17. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 16 wherein said elongated slide members each include a second hollow channel extending parallel to said arm-receiving hollow channel, said second hollow channels being substantially aligned with connection means for said biasing members associated with said arms and said anchor means, said biasing members extending through said second hollow channels of said elongated slide members. 
     
     
       18. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 14 wherein said U-shaped band is formed of plastic and includes a plurality of grooves to grip the teeth on the inner surface thereof, said arms of said U-shaped band being movable toward one another for insertion of said appliance into the mouth, said U-shaped member also having a plurality of grooves to grip the teeth on the outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       19. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 13 wherein said U-shaped anchor means includes a pair of U-shaped hooks, said hooks each facing in a direction opposite the direction said U-shaped band faces and being opperatively associated with one of said arms on opposite sides of said U-shaped band, one of said U-shaped hooks being adapted to engage a molar on each side of the mouth. 
     
     
       20. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 19 wherein said U-shaped anchor means also includes a pair of elongated slide members, said slide members comprising said means associated with said U-shaped anchor means and said U-shaped band for placing said U-shaped band in said first and second positions and said slide members each having a hollow channel adapted to receive one of said arms of said U-shaped band in telescopic fashion, said U-shaped hooks each being connected to the rearwardmost end of one of said elongated slide members. 
     
     
       21. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 20 wherein each of said U-shaped hooks is attached to the corresponding one of said slide members by a joint, said joint accommodating relative pivotal movement of said U-shaped hooks relative to said slide members, said relative pivotal movement permitting said U-shaped hooks to be positioned so as to comfortably and securely engage a molar on each side of the mouth. 
     
     
       22. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 21 wherein said U-shaped hooks each include a forwardly facing cavity formed by a pair of generally parallel walls, said cavities being adapted to receive said connecting arms, said connecting arms and walls having mutually interengageable connection means. 
     
     
       23. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 22 wherein said connection means includes a pair of aligned stud receiving holes in each of said pairs of walls defining said cavities, said connecting arms each having a pair of oppositely facing studs adapted to be releasably disposed in one of said pairs of holes, said U-shaped member being pivotable about said studs. 
     
     
       24. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 23 wherein said connecting means further includes detent means associated with said walls and said connecting arms, said detent means accommodating retention of said U-shaped member in positions of angular adjustment relative to said studs. 
     
     
       25. The orthodontic appliance as defined by claim 24 wherein said detent means includes a detent on each of said connecting arms forwardly of said studs and at least two generally vertically aligned detent receiving indentations forwardly of said holes in each of said pairs of walls.